Based in Tokyo, RoundCat is a touring club that connects the creative and driving community of Japan with our friends around the world.
We spend time in cars exploring the intersection of design, industry, and adventure.
Founded in 2019 by Clark Sopper, RoundCat is a manifestation of his world view: a global community of designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and captains of industry who share a deep curiosity for the world around them.
The mission of RoundCat is simple. Drive around looking for the good design feeling.
RoundCat’s wide network, both within Japan and internationally, gives the touring club unprecedented access into the closed doors of industry. Our members are authorities in their fields who inspire creativity, promote innovation, and value collaboration. RoundCat’s vision of Japan is optimistic and forward looking.
The Good Design Feeling:
The physical sensation of pleasure and satisfaction felt when experiencing exceptional design.
The tradition of craft that has shaped Japan for centuries is one of technical innovation and constant evolution. Now seen as something from the past, Japan’s “Craft” historically held the place in culture that “Design” holds today: the intersection of form and function that results in objects that are both visually compelling and useful in daily life. The approach of creating objects and experiences that are meaningful to both the creator and the end user, seeing the materials and manufacturing process evident in the final product, and a clear connection to the human hand are all elements that we associate with craft and feel like are often missing in modern life.
Japan’s traditional craft story informs its design and industrial future in a way that is unique globally, exerting a gravitational pull on people who appreciate good design. We are energized by a new generation of designers, craftspeople, and industrialists who are incorporating the elements of craft into their designs for the future.
The RoundCat touring club is constantly in search of the Good Design Feeling and the people who are working to create this feeling.
